So who's the next OC?

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But he also said Les Miles was going to Michigan.

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Locksley

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Kelly and Helfrich

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The revolving door at Alabama offensive coordinator spun again Tuesday with Steve Sarkisian exiting for the Atlanta Falcons.

This news came as a surprise outside the football complex, but the timing suggests it wasn't something that caught Nick Saban off guard. That means a head start on naming a third offensive coordinator of 2017.

Who likely makes the cut? This is AL.com's best estimation of an early candidate list to replace the second former USC head coach to exit since New Year's.

-- Mike Locksley: The former New Mexico head coach and Maryland offensive coordinator is already on staff. He was promoted from analyst to co-offensive coordinator in January, though Saban has yet to identify which position he'll be coaching. If continuity was as important as it was in replacing Lane Kiffin, this would be the obvious pick.

-- Billy Napier: Yes, Alabama's receivers coach of the previous five seasons just left to be Arizona State's new offensive coordinator. But it's been just a week since his hire out west and a contract isn't likely signed. Napier was the Clemson offensive coordinator for two seasons in 2009 and 2010. He is known as a good recruiter and did a nice job coaching up the receivers. 

-- Mark Helfrich: The former Oregon head coach is still unemployed after being fired in December. The last three Alabama OCs, after all, came from the Pac-12 when you include Doug Nussmeier. He ran up-tempo offenses and nearly won a national title with Heisman winner Marcus Mariota (a graduate of the same Hawaiian high school that produced Alabama freshman QB Tua Tagovailoa). The downside to Helfrich? He hasn't served as an offensive play-caller since Colorado in 2008. AL.com previously reported in January that Helfrich was waiting to become a head coach again and was unlikely to accept an offensive coordinator position. 

-- Chip Kelly: Why not? He's available once again. And, remember, Kelly met with Saban and the Alabama staff before the 2015 Cotton Bowl win over Michigan State. "Well, Chip Kelly is a good friend of myself and a lot of coaches on our staff, and he just happened to be in the area and he stopped by and visited with us for a little bit," Saban said last January. Based on prior experience at Oregon, he'd seemingly be a good fit working with Hurts and Tagovailoa. 

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With the news the Atlanta Falcons have agreed with Steve Sarkisian to become the Super Bowl runner-up’s offensive coordinator, Nick Saban and Alabama will once again be searching for a new play-caller -- less than two months after naming Sarkisian the coordinator in waiting behind Lane Kiffin.

Below, BamaOnLine has put together a preliminary hot board of potential candidates to replace Sarkisian as the Crimson Tide’s OC. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

Dan Enos -- Arkansas offensive coordinator / QB coach

Enos just finished his second season as the Razorback offensive coordinator, and Arkansas’ usual run-heavy offense was actually ranked third in the SEC in passing offense (263.0 yards per game) in 2016. The Dearborn, Mich., native, has head-coaching experience at Central Michigan (2010-14) and has been an offensive coordinator at North Dakota State (2003), Missouri State (1999), Northern Michigan (1996) and Lakeland College (1994-95).

Sterlin Gilbert -- South Florida offensive coordinator / QB coach

Gilbert was unable to rescue the Charlie Strong era at Texas, but now he is with the former Longhorns coach at USF. In his four seasons as a college coordinator before his one-year tenure in Austin, the San Angelo, Texas, native’s offenses averaged almost 500 total yards and nearly 38 points per game. After getting his start as a high school coach in 2003, Gilbert served as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Eastern Illinois (2012-13), Bowling Green (co-coordinator in 2014) and Tulsa (2015).

George Godsey -- Ex-Houston Texans offensive coordinator

Godsey spent the last six seasons in the NFL with the Houston Texans (2014-16) and New England Patriots (2011-13). Prior to that, he spent the beginning of his coaching career at Central Florida, where he earned his start as a graduate assistant. Godsey was elevated to quarterbacks coach at UCF in 2005 and moved over to coach the Golden Knights’ running backs coach in 2009-10. He previously worked with Alabama offensive line coach Brent Key.

Mike Groh -- Los Angeles Rams WR coach / passing game coordinator

A former Alabama wide receivers coach and graduate assistant, Groh just completed his first season as the Rams’ wide receivers coach after serving the same role for the Chicago Bears from 2013-15. A former Virginia quarterback, Groh coached for the Cavaliers from 2001-08, working his way up to the offensive coordinator position in 2006, before joining the Saban’s staff as a GA in 2009. He returned to Alabama as a receivers coach in 2011 after one season as Louisville’s quarterbacks coach.
Kelly to OSU doesn't look likely (Photo: 247Sports)

Mark Helfrich -- Ex-Oregon head coach

The former Oregon head coach is still unemployed after being fired from his post in Eugene, Ore., in December. Helfrich replaced Chip Kelly in 2013 after serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Ducks from 2009-12. For what it’s worth, the last four Alabama offensive coordinators have ties to the Pac-12, dating back to Doug Nussmeier. Helfrich has worked as an OC, passing game coordinator or quarterbacks coach since a stint at Vienna in 1997. He has, however, voiced his desire to be a head coach again.

Chip Kelly -- Ex-San Francisco 49ers head coach

Kelly is clearly the most intriguing name on this list. Having spent the last four seasons in the NFL as the head coach of the 49ers (2016) and Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15), a return to the college ranks might be just what doctor ordered for the former Oregon Ducks coach. Kelly created a high-powered offensive machine in Eugene from 2007 to 2012 as both OC and head coach. Saban has added big names in his last two hires, and Ed Marynowitz, who was in Philadelphia with Kelly, is now the associate athletics director for football in Tuscaloosa.

Freddie Kitchens -- Arizona Cardinals quarterbacks coach

The former Crimson Tide quarterback wrapped up his 10th season with the Cardinals and fourth year as Arizona’s quarterbacks coach. Kitchens earned his coaching start at Glenville State in 1999 and served as a graduate assistant at LSU in 2000 before coaching tailbacks at North Texas from 2001-03 and both running backs and tight ends at Mississippi State from 2004-05. The Gadsden, Ala., native’s last stop was with the Dallas Cowboys (tight ends coach in 2006).

Mike Locksley -- Alabama offensive analyst

Currently in Tuscaloosa, Locksley was named the Crimson Tide’s co-offensive coordinator after serving as an offensive analyst under Saban this past season. The former Towson defensive back got his start at his alma mater coaching defensive backs and special teams. He has head-coaching experience at New Mexico and Maryland (interim) and has been the offensive coordinator at Illinois and Maryland, where he spent nine years of his coaching career. He was also a running backs coach at Florida (2003-04). If continuity is important, this could be the choice.

Tee Martin -- USC offensive coordinator / WR coach

The former Tennessee quarterback just finished his fifth season at USC and his first as the Trojans’ offensive coordinator. Martin has coached USC’s wide receivers all five seasons but added passing game coordinator duties to his resume in 2014. The Mobile, Ala., native received his collegiate coaching start at New Mexico (QB coach in 2009) and led Kentucky’s wide receivers (2010) and passing game (2011) before moving on to Southern Cal.

Billy Napier -- Alabama wide receivers coach

This may be a long shot, as Napier was named Arizona State’s co-offensive coordinator before National Signing Day. But he spent four seasons as Alabama’s wide receivers coach and was also an offensive quality control assistant at UA in 2011 in between a stop at Colorado State as an assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach. The Chatsworth, Ga., native was an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Clemson from 2009-10 and coached the tight ends for the Tigers from 2006-08. Napier coached 2014 Biletnikoff Award winner Amari Cooper.

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Gilbert might actually be my preferred pick.

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Helfrich is very familiar with Tua

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